Do You Miss Your Blogging

When you opt blogging as a career you need to know some things that you will come to know when you have been in to blogging for some time before that no one can actually tell that.

I am talking about your real interest in blogging – because before taking blogging as a career you need to understand some basic things that you love to share and write about things or not – because if you don’t then blogging will be very tough career for you.

Since you pass both the above-mentioned parameters now the task is to set your blog and give it a try. But a wholehearted try – so start your blogging career and then after writing consistently for 2 months or so leave your blog for few days – lets say may be for a week or 10days.

So, is there something in your mind that you are missing your blog writing? Yes you need to know the answer for this before giving your blogging a head start.

This is more than essential trick to test yourself – because blogging is not for a day or week or for a year task this will be with you even in your later days. As this is something you don’t have to depend on others at any moment of your life. Since you have ideas that can flow you can blog and on the other side your blogging you will get you money.

IT Jobs and US Election

People are really confused with the statements from Barack Obama. As he said during the campaign that if he gets through with the presidential elections then he would pause the outsourcing industry to give job to the local US people.

As the recession concern this measure is though necessary for the US people also, giving a fact that many people in India related to Nasscom and other IT and IT enabled services feel that this will not going to happen.

But the fact is undercover that all the Indian IT companies and workers are holding their breath for the 20 Jan 2009 when Obama takes in the office.

Should it A Matter of Worry
The matter of fact is that Indian IT industry gets about 60% of revenue of US outsource IT jobs. The situation in India is not too good also as companies are in all time crises and this is pertaining them to shed of the workers and the situation worsen and not many jobs are available here.

People related to Indian IT industry further believes that IT is not the general work it is rather depended on the skills and the efficiency. Also, this is a fact that Obama said he would cut the taxes for the companies who benefits from outsourcing.

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Now the question in concern is that many people have further said about this that Obama was not saying about the IT jobs but he is pointing to the other outsourced jobs. As the industry has cut jobs more and this has given rise to the unemployment situation.

The whole situation is so confusing that why not any journalist clarified in the initial stages when Obama spoke about this topic that he was referring to IT or other industrial jobs. Now that he is elected one can only wait and watch the situation.

Blogger and ProBlogger Information Standards

Most of the bloggers who are just fascinated by the blog income and start a blog can’t actually differentiate between the blogger and a pro-blogger. Does this create confusion among the new herd of bloggers at any step? Yes it does!

How this affects
New bloggers pretending to start a blog to make money online and as most of the blogs in th blogosphere say that follow other blogs of similar niche first and then try to develop yours.

This is the situation that is creating a bubble of bloggers who are nothing else then misleading with lot of information. The bloggers who claim to be pro-bloggers at some step and start giving the reviews about product or any service or just letting the other users/bloggers to develop a misconception about anything with their blog posts, these kind of bloggers does not actually help you at any step rather than just flooding you.

How to Differentiate
I was thinking about this for a long time now and was looking for the ways to actually differentiate between new and the pro-bloggers. So here are some of the points based on my personal research and experience.

1. The thing that matters most is the quality of information you get. Just make out from the posts about any blogger whether he is trying to be bookish or friendly.
2. When you visit any pro-blogger’s blog try to visit some of the initial post written by, this way you can easily do by visiting the “Archive” section of blog. Then read some of his recent posts and then mark out the improvement from the initial to the current.
3. Also, try to search for some basic topics of the niche and if the blogger claims to be a pro-blogger then the blog must have some basic topics of the niche as every pro-blogger knows that any content whether basic or advanced can be as important to any one.
4. How well the blogger maintain his blog. This is very easy to make out, just visit the categories and read the posts does that belong to the relevant category or not.

Judging Parameter
All the four points mentioned above can be a general factor when it comes to the differentiation. But there are some more explicit parameters too.

The number of unique posts and the diversified quality finally govern the future of blogger and his blog. Diversified in the sense is that the pro-blogger has a view to share the right information and does not actually seek the time importance to an extent in blog.

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If you really value to the information that you gather for your blog as your blog is still in the initial stages then the factors and parameters mentioned above should be taken into consideration. It’s always advised to first verify and then believe the information to avoid creating an information blob.

Working from Home unites in Co-working Spaces

Most of the bloggers or webmasters who run on their own websites/blogs are actually working from home. Working from home is awesome, no boss on your head no targets to achieve for incentives.

But its some time boring to work from home because after all we are all social animals and love being socializing. As socializing has its own benefits to share knowledge or make new friends just hang out your feelings, this can probably be used as a business tool also.

Keeping this in mind some webmasters/bloggers go to coffeehouse. But coffeehouse comes with own challenges as over caffeination, no place to make phone calls without being a jerk. Nowhere to meet with clients. You have to buy lunch.

This is the only reason that co-working spaces are being popular for the working at home industry people.

You get your own desk to work with other co-workers, you and your friend shares the same desk, so you can easily enjoy your work. No problem of calling as a phone is provided for the use, you have connectivity to the Internet or Wi-Fi. Most of all you have a conference room where you can actually call and discuss your clients in a professional manner.

The space is shared so the rent is also, therefore is not an overburden on anybody and at the same time you can be with many other people of the same field. Like for example, if you are web-designer, so copyrighters or seo people in your co-working space can really help you in you work and also you can be of their help too.

So, if you are a group of friends or professional and are really bored working from home because of non-socializing factor than the best option for you is to go for a co-working space.

You can easily search for these co-working spaces in Google or other office space providing sites and compare the rate and facilities you want. On the other hand as I have written about that being a group you can also develop your own co-working space, according to your needs.

If you are thinking of developing your own co-working space than you can also see that it has all the facilities that are at par with home, such as shower, books and a TV room etc. so that you could not have a feeling that again you are in office.

Newsletter Developer Business

Overview of business model
Newsletters are a compelling way to create brand awareness and awareness about a company’s products and services. There are all different kinds of newsletters being circulated on the Internet. Some are sent out daily; others are sent weekly or monthly. The higher the frequency of circulation, the more work is required to manage the development and circulation of the newsletter. Most newsletters are free, so the revenue comes from advertising, sponsorship, and mail list management.

In many cases, traditional businesses want to integrate the e-mail newsletter into their marketing strategy and would prefer to hire someone to manage this task for a fee. It would be possible to develop and circulate newsletters for several businesses and make a profit.

Skills needed
To operate this online business, you will need experience in developing copy for public viewing, which demands a catchy and terse writing style to get the message across clearly and in few words. Basic Web publishing skills are needed to update the Web site where you market your services as a newsletter developer.

Cost to start this business
You will need a computer, appropriate software, a printer, and an Internet account. The main expense will be the design, development, and hosting of your Web site. The estimated cost is $3,000 to $7,500 to start.

Number of employees needed to start
The number of employees needed to run this type of business is one dedicated individual, and you can start this venture while keeping your regular full-time job.

International potential
This business has strong international potential if the newsletters are translated into several languages and the content appeals to a demographic that spans across the globe. E-mail can go anywhere, so the possibilities of having a global business are high.

Important business issues to be addressed
The development and management of newsletters and the mailing lists that they are associated with is becoming a more valuable business as the traditional print version of the newsletter becomes obsolete. Make sure the pricing of your services is competitive with other newsletter developers, and carefully plan how much time you will spend on each circulation.

You must be aware of e-mail courtesy and privacy guidelines so you do not spam your subscribers or send them viruses.

Payment for your services should be half the total fee when you accept the job and half when each campaign is complete. In every case possible, try to get clients to sign a six-month to one-year contract, allowing you to manage their newsletters for a prolonged amount of time.

Online marketing techniques

• Develop your own newsletter and send it out to prospective clients outlining your services and the benefits of having theirs developed remotely by you.
• Develop a sponsored listings campaign to bid on appropriate keyword phrases with the popular search engines.
• Get listed and linked from directories and meta-indexes related to mail lists, newsletters, and Internet marketing services.
• Include your clickable logo at the bottom of all newsletters you develop for clients, if possible.
• Participate in newsgroups and discussion forums related to online advertising or the industries to which your newsletter services would appeal.
• Organize a strategic reciprocal linking and advertising strategy between your site and all the businesses that currently use your services.

Additional income
Additional income can come from creating a newsletter development business that broadens the scope of services by integrating the newsletter with other online marketing techniques that cooperate with ad networks, marketing research groups, and mail list buyers.

Three Easy Steps to More Cash

You’re about to learn how a tried and tested three step process can transform your world and bring you all the riches you’ve ever imagined.

First, let me introduce you to the basic three steps:

• Create a Target that defines what you want, one that is clearly understood by all aspects of your un-conscious mind.
• Prioritize your Target —Flag it so that you will remain unconsciously focused on it while you get on with your normal activities.
• Resolve any self-defeating un-conscious habit patterns that can prevent you from achieving your target.

Think about driving a car…

Most of what you do requires little conscious attention. You attend to the traffic, what’s on the radio, the time, etc. You don’t pay much attention to the numerous minor steering corrections, evaluating your distance from the cars on your right or left, slowing to adjust to the car in front of you, etc.

Now, remember what it was like when you first learned to drive. Every single thing required a conscious decision. Remember how tiring that was? Didn’t your palms sweat? Didn’t you hold your breath a lot?

The difference is that now, through repetition, you have created unconscious habit patterns that operate automatically, making things much easier. Those unconscious habit patterns persist, seemingly forever.That’s why we say, “You never forget how to ride a bike.” You’re never going to forget how to drive a car, are you?

But driving a car is a simple example. And you’ve already accomplished it, most likely.

But what about the things you want—like more money—that you don’t yet have? What keeps stopping you from achieving that goal?

Some of your persistent, unconscious habit patterns don’t work well for you any more. They can automatically block you from getting what you want. They are probably even operating right now, keeping you from getting more money (or any other target).

For example, an infant learns to cry when it is hungry. Crying is very effective for an infant. Cry, and someone pretty quickly comes to meet your needs. But this automatic response loses its effectiveness as we grow older. Think of someone you’ve seen in your business life. They’re frustrated because they’re not getting what they want. Their voice gets louder, they get red in the face, maybe they even wave their arms around or pound on a table

Just like an infant when it is frustrated.

Why? The unconscious habit pattern they learned as an infant is still working — but now it’s working against them.

For you to be successful at things that seem impossible, those inappropriate unconscious patterns have to be changed into new habits that enhance your ability to get what you want.

I call that “resolving unconscious habit patterns”— Clearing the unconscious of whatever prevents you from achieving your target. It’s the third step in this magical 3-step process. It’s fun. And it’s very, very powerful. There you have it.

What Skills Will You Need For The Basic Achievement Three-Step?
You’re probably wondering what you’re going to have to pack to make all your dreams come true. Well, not much. Actually, they are very familiar skills that you already learned in school:

• reading
• writing
• editing
  

They also include two very important ones that you’ve learned simply by living:

• separating things into logical groupings
• being aware of whether things feel right for you or not.

The Five Steps to Getting a Raise

Be advised — this column could be dangerous if not handled with extreme caution. One of the most delicate issues in business is compensation, especially when it comes to your own, and mishandling the matter can set you back or even cost you your job.

Moreover, amid a widening gap between the highest income earners and everyone else in the current economic landscape, you might find it frustrating to have to fight for a standard 3 to 4 percent salary increase.

So what can you do about it?

The following five steps offer you the best chances of getting a raise, while at the same time minimizing the attendant risks. If you follow them thoughtfully and sensitively, you’re likely to position yourself for a compensation increase in the short or medium term.

Here are the five steps:

1. Deserve a raise.

In order to get a raise, the most important thing to do is deserve one. Why? Under relentless pressure to satisfy insatiable investors, companies must achieve increased profitability quarter after quarter. To keep their P&Ls in fighting shape, they look for ways to eliminate all nonessential positions, through the application of technology, outsourcing, or just pushing employees ever harder.

While nearly everyone thinks he or she is performing well at work, the fact is that some are more central to the organization’s success than others. Your best protection is to make yourself as indispensable to the enterprise as possible.

More than ever, you should find a way to work on things that support how your company achieves growth and creates value. It’s incumbent upon you to know exactly how what you’re working on fits into the strategy of the company. If you don’t know, find out. If you realize your project is on the periphery, find a way to get involved in something in the center of the value-creation engine and corporate strategy.

Once you’re sure you’re working on the right things, work hard, be a team player, be positive, and take the appropriate amount of initiative.

2. Get the facts.

It’s also your responsibility to know your market value and how your compensation stacks up. You need to learn how your level, role, experience, and performance compare to the market.

To find out, talk to your company’s human resources professionals to understand the pay scales in the company. Also talk to recruiters and people from other companies in similar roles. Of course, never has so much salary information been so readily and publicly available — enter “executive compensation” in Yahoo! Search and you’ll get around 20 million results.

One easy-to-use, high-quality resource is Salary.com. This site includes a Salary Wizard feature and Career Resources center with information sorted by job type, level, ZIP code, performance, education level, and so on.

If you work in a public company, be sure to study your company’s proxy statement, where the compensation of your own top executives is detailed. This will help you understand the pot of gold toward which you’re striving so hard.

3. Talk to your boss.

Now you’re ready to have the tricky compensation conversation with your boss, and it’s imperative to be sensitive: Asking your boss for a raise is one of the most delicate conversations you can have.

It’s well known that managers find giving performance reviews anxiety-producing in the extreme. They find compensation discussions even more stressful. So make sure you have this talk in a constructive manner by putting the conversation into a broader context.

Talk about how your work fits into the company’s strategy. Discuss how you see your contribution and performance. Solicit his or her feedback. Share your findings from step 2, and ask what he or she thinks your expectations should be. Don’t be pushy, but be clear that compensation is an important part of the overall equation for you.

Make sure to communicate that there are other important dimensions as well, such as feeling that you’re making an important contribution to helping the company win; enjoying and respecting the people with whom you work; and continuously learning and growing. Your boss will almost certainly respond better when compensation is “on the list,” but not at the top of the list.

There’s one other thing to recognize, however — your boss probably feels the same way about his or her compensation that you do about yours. The ability to give you a raise is likely to be constrained by your boss’s own compensation, as well as by approved salary ranges for different employment levels. But here’s the key: If you conduct this conversation well enough, you might even be able to arm your boss with the approach to have the same discussion with his or her boss.

4. Take on a special project.

If your compensation is locked-in for 2007, and it may well be, another approach is to come up with a special project that you can offer to lead. Assuming that you now fully understand how your job and work fits into the company’s strategy, you should be able to devise a viable effort that would further support the strategy.

Suggest to your boss that you lead this special project — and if you’re successful, that you be eligible for a special performance bonus.

5. If all else fails…

If your salary is locked-in, the pot of gold isn’t all that enticing, and there’s no real opportunity to be rewarded in the way you think you deserve, then it may be time to consider looking outside the company for a different opportunity.

Obviously, this should be a last resort if you like the work you’re doing and enjoy and respect the people with whom you’re working.

By Jim Citrin